In the mid 1800’s the French were exporting their sauces and condiments all over the New World. The Americas had been one of the larger consumers of sauce, especially mayonnaise. The French government was looking for more and more revenue to pay for war and social programs at home so they began to tax the exports of uniquely French products such as the popular Mayonnaise. This was an inconvenience to the Americans but it was an outrage to the less well-off Mexicans. Many of them began making their own sauces (salsa in Spanish) from local ingredients and thumbing their noses at the French. The French retaliated by blockading the harbor at Veracruz during the spring of 1862. Finally in early May of that year, a brave group of Mexican revolutionaries used cover of darkness and the services of some waterfront prostitutes to keep the French occupied and took the opportunity to sneak aboard several of the French ships loaded with the mayonnaise. They sank all the French mayonnaise ships right there in the harbor and declared a great victory for the people of Mexico.
This day, when the French oppressors were defeated by Mexican revolutionaries, is still known by the name the locals referred to it as: The day they sinko de Mayo.
*ducks and runs away* |
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